A grace note for Naomi Osaka

The four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka is back for the Australian Open after a long layoff from international tennis

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This time, Naomi Osaka walked onto the court with the headphones slightly askew. The famously introverted tennis star wanted to take in all the sounds and sights as she walked the familiar path from locker room to centre court. In September 2022, after a surprising first-round exit from the US Open, Osaka had stepped away from the game that she had once loved-and dominated for a little while. But the fans stayed. Ready when you are.

They welcomed her back with resounding support as she returned from a 15-month hiatus from the sport on 1 January at the Brisbane International. Old champion, new mom. She endured a difficult pregnancy and childbirth before her daughter Shai was born on 7 July, last year. Within six months, after a particularly gruelling pre-season of training, the Japanese player returned to the court.

"The last couple of years that I played before I had my daughter, I didn't return as much love as I was given," the 26-year-old said during her on-court interview in Brisbane. "So, I really feel like that's what I want to do in this chapter. I just really appreciate people coming out and cheering for me."

In her comeback match, Osaka defeated Tamara Korpatsch 6-3, 7-6 (9) in the first round. The consistency will come with time, but Osaka was crushing the ball like she always did. Osaka doesn't have the smoothest of techniques, but the split-second down-to-up whip is what generates the power, speed and top-spin. An aggressive baseliner, Osaka's forehands have regularly clocked 100mph, which is not a norm on the women's tour. Against Korpatsch, she unveiled the full range of groundstrokes to make a winning return.

She lost the closest of matches to Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7, 4-6 in the second round. One of the best servers on the tour, Osaka recorded a menacing 14 aces during the match. But a competition rusty Osaka, converted only two of the 12 break point opportunities she created.